Studies on Fungi Associated With Post Harvest Spoilage of Pawpaw Carica PAPAYA Fruit

Abstract

A study was carried out to find out fungi associated with the spoilage of pawpaw fruits during their post harvest period. A total of fifteeen strains of fungi were isolated and identified as Aspergillus niger,Aspergillus flavus,Penicillium italicum,Rhizophus stolonifer and Neurospora sitophila.Pathogenicity test of each fungal isolate showed that all fungi were capable of causing rottening of the fruit and most severe rottening was caused by Rhizopus stolonifer while Aspergillus flavus produced the least rottening of the fruit.It was found that there was increase in acidity of the fruits as spoilage progressed while water content increased from 61.5% to 85.5% which account for the increase in the softness of the fruit during spoilage while the increase in acidity gave the fruits an acidic taste which is often bitter.